High performer and fun option for intermediate – advanced surfers in mid size surf
Catch Surf Stump Review by: Bryan
Dimensions: 5’0″ x 21.5″ x 2.5″ (36 L Volume)
Fins: Tri fin set up – catch surf fins
What we like: It’s bright orange, so people can easily see me shoot out of the Bondi barrels. Great for peaky shore breaks and surf in 3-4 foot range
What we don’t: Probably time to for me to get something a little bigger, seeing as I haven’t stopped eating and drinking throughout winter. (Due to small size found it hard to get into smaller waves)
Rating: 8/10
Catch Surf pitches this board as the baby brother of the Odysea Log and says it’s half the size and double the fun. It’s wide, packs quite a bit of volume for a 5 foot board but is more manoeuvrable in more critical waves.
They say The Stump is suitable for all skill levels….but I’m not so sure. These boards are pretty short and overall I think they’re more suited to intermediate to experienced surfers but they’re a lot of fun in pitchy waves and barrels.
Key Features
- 36L volume over 5 feet length
- Stiff dual composite core
- Triple (x3) maple stringers
- HDPE slick bottom
- Thruster tri fin setup with standard Catch Surf performance fins (Also available in a quad setup)
- Decent amount of rocker
- Wide tail
Side profile – rocker 
Catch Surf performance fins
Experience in the Surf
I’ve mainly surfed the Stump at the southern end of Bondi (Sydney) in low tide, sucky little barrels around 2-3 foot.
I found this board to really excel around 3-4 foot surf with some shape. Anything smaller and I really struggled to get into waves, mainly I think because the board is so short it needs a bit more push to get going. Everyone is different though as I’ve noted other reviewers saying they liked it in tiny surf.
I found when there was enough size it went really well, great speed and easy to turn. Really good for sucky waves and making little sections and barrels. Because it is so short it kinda slots into the wave so it was easy to bottom turn and setup into pitching waves.
Anything too much over 4 foot and it would just slide out for me. Again I think due to the size but also the basic Catch Fins that I’ve had it in may have limited its performance range.
I found it pretty easy to paddle due to the volume, I had no troubles duck diving. It turns on a dime, sharp and quick. Not as responsive as a shortboard but works well for turns and cut backs.
What kind of waves is it suited to?
As mentioned above I personally found this board needs a little size to get going, so probably 3-4 foot size ideally.
It’s not a groveler, I wouldn’t recommend it for tiny surf. Nor would I recommend it for big surf – it’s ideal for that decent-sized in between stuff (ie pretty perfect surf).
It is great for beach breaks, shories and pitchy steep waves.
What kind of surfers should ride this?
Catch Surf says this board if great for all levels but really I think as an adult surfer, only an intermediate to experienced surfer would be able to properly ride this and enjoy it. Learners would struggle to get off all fours.
A keen kid or someone really lightweight might have fun with it but for someone starting out I’d suggest to get a longer board.
All in all?
I found the Catch Stump to be a great option for decent fun sized surf and dumpy shore breaks where you I wouldn’t want to risk a fibreglass board.
For me it’s not the kind of board I would take out in tiny surf, I’d go for something longer. At the same time it wouldn’t be my choice if the waves were really pumping but for fun waves over a couple of feet, the Stump really gets going and it’s surprisingly high performing for a soft top.
I recently tested out an MF Softboards Little Marley, which at 5’6″ and similar volume, I found went better for me in smaller surfer – check out the review here.
Hope you enjoyed our Catch Surf Stump Review. Check out our overview of the other boards in the range here and get in contact below if you have any questions!
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